Signs of the Times - We shouldn't base our behavior on His coming... We should be behaving based on our love for HIM - period.
NOTE: This is the extended version before I trimmed down the message to fit our time slot - AMAZING what the Word provides to us, so I wanted to ensure you had all my notes for the evening... ENJOY!
The message tonight was laid on my heart literally days after our last gathering here… On Oct 5th I sat with a blank sheet in front of me and the Word spoke to me and I started typing what God was putting on my heart. Two days later, Oct 7th, Israel is attacked.
This message has nothing to do with fear, or anxiety, or stressing as we see the world falling apart before us, it has EVERYTHING to do with our HOPE, our FAITH and our PREPARATION for our King’s Return.
Hebrews 10:24 – 25 (ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
When we hear this… As you see the Day drawing near… What does Jesus tell us about what to expect when the Day is drawing near…. And just a side note… this is not all about what is happening currently with Israel… even though that itself has Biblical importance… so stay will me…
Matthew 24:3-51 (ESV)
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mark 13:3-37 (ESV)
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chosen, he shortened the days.21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows,or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Luke 21:7-36 (ESV)
7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus tells us “Things will be just like they were in the time of Noah” – Matthew 24:37
What was it like in the time of Noah – Genesis 6:5-7 | Genesis 6:11-13
Gen 6:5-7 – The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that EVERY intention of the thoughts of his heart was only EVIL CONTINUALLY. And the LORD REGRETTED that He had made man on earth, and it GRIEVED Him to His heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
Gen 6:11-13 – Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
What a COMPLETE change from the beginning, and how God had intended us to be – after creating the earth and man and animals - Genesis 1:31 – And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was VERY GOOD. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Let's face it... We live in a time VERY similar if not worse than Noah.
What did He provide as a repeated instruction to us in these passages as His Talmidim (disciples) –
Stay alert, be on your guard, Stay AWAKE, do not fall asleep – I LOVE how Luke put it so clearly in verses 34-36 – “But keep watch on yourselves, or your hearts will become dulled by carousing, drunkenness and the worries of everyday living, and that Day will be sprung upon you suddenly like a trap! For it will close in on EVERYONE no matter where they live, throughout the WHOLE WORLD. STAY ALERT, ALWAYS PRAYING that you will have the strength to escape all the things that will happen and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”
What else does Jesus tell us in these passages – The telling of what was to come might sound terrifying to those who do not have hope in Christ – and I know everyone has their own take or interpretation of how things play out in Revelation… but Jesus was clear – Mark recorded it as follows in 13:19 – 20 - 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chosen, he shortened the days.
We are tasting birth pains now (hear of wars, and rumors of wars, nations against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, famines, earthquakes, pestilence/epidemics, etc..), This should not bring fear to our hearts, of course sadness for those that will perish and be caught up in the mess of lawlessness and increased wickedness, but rather, we should be eagerly awaiting the coming of our Lord and doing ALL THINGS possible to ensure that others are not only seeing Him through the way we live, but hearing about His Saving Grace.
We will be hated for His name sake – in the Complete Jewish Bible it reads…
Luke 21:12-15 - 12But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before kings and governors. This will all be on account of me, 13but it will prove an OPPORTUNITY for you TO BEAR WITNESS. 14So make up your minds not to worry, rehearsing your defense beforehand; 15for I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute.
Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Use every opportunity granted, to show, to love, and to inform others about our Savior. If not now, when… don’t let time go by thinking it is someone else’s job to provide the good news, having the mindset… I am content with my own Salvation.
God has been patiently waiting so that all can hear of His Saving Grace through Jesus Christ our Lord…
2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is PATIENT toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Jesus paid the ultimate price for his Bride, the church. He willingly gave His life so that He could gather us up to be His forever. How incredible the love He has for us!
Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) tells us – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, so that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING, that she might be HOLY and without BLEMISH.
And Revelation 19:7-9
“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Are we ready for Him… are we living a life set apart?
What instruction can we take from the direct message He gave to the 7 Churches in Revelation… which ultimately, we know are a warning to us, the church body as a whole.
7 Churches in Revelation:
Ephesus – Lost the passion and LOVE for Jesus that they had at first. The false god, Artemis was the center of the culture there. Life there revolved around activities of the temple to Artemis. There was huge pressure for all to worship this false god, including the Christians.
Jesus praised the Church in Ephesus –
Rev 2:2-3 – “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not grown weary….”
Then gives them this warning…
Rev 2:4 – but I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
There is a difference between patiently enduring and bearing up for His name’s sake and passionately proclaiming Him in the face of adversity. HE should be our EVERYTHING. Our passion for Christ should be at the forefront of all that we do.
The Bible gives us the ultimate example of this passion and love in relation to a Bride and her Groom when it comes to Jesus.
Jesus, our Groom, coming back for His bride, the Church. In His day, the disciples would have known exactly what this reference was to as in their culture, the groom would go back after being betrothed and start building off of his father’s home to prepare a place where he and his new bride would be able to live. The groom would not know when he could go retrieve his bride… only the groom’s father… and once it was determined by the groom’s father that all was ready… The groom would go back for his bride and bring her to himself in the place that was prepared… likewise in…
John 14:1-3 (ESV) - “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Let us keep our lamps lit and be ready for His long awaited return. Let us not let our hearts get complacent and our lamps grow dim. Let our hearts burn with a fire and passion to serve Him and LOVE Him and Others
Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV) – “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.”
Isaiah 62:1-10 (ESV) – For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and HER SALVATION AS A BURNING TORCH. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings of your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your GOD. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight is in Her, and your land MARRIED; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Hosea 2:14-23 (ESV) – Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vinyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. “And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call Me, ‘My HUSBAND,’ and no longer will you call Me, ‘My Baal.’ For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME FOREVER. I will BETROTH YOU TO ME in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.
“And in that day I will answer, declares the LORD, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel, and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘YOU ARE MY PEOPLE’; and he shall say, ‘YOU ARE MY GOD.’
We are His, He paid the ultimate price for us. He never wanted us to be apart, rather, His desire from the beginning was to have us with Him forever. He made a way for that to be possible. Let us never lose our desire and love that had for Him at first.
Revelation 22:17 (ESV) - The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Pergamum and Thyatira – Compromised their Faith and tolerated pagan practices.
Pergamum – Rev 2:14-15 – But I have a few things against you; you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teachings of the Nicolaitans.
I saw a reference to the Nicolaitans, not sure where I came across it, but it used the terms unrestricted indulgence - Do we live in a world that is full of "unrestricted indulgence"?
Thyatira – Rev 2:20 – But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
Sardis – Incorporation of idol worship – They had synagogues and looked on the outside as being faithful, but internally they were dead. Even today in the ruins, there are synagogues built into pagan institutions and even within the synagogue are stones carved with false gods.
Rev 3:1-2 - …”I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God."
In Matthew 7:21-23 it tells us– “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Don’t look, and say, the right things that make you seem to be “alive” for the Spirit knows our true heart and intent. Let the Spirit not find us dead on the inside and our “works not complete in the sight of God.”
So what do we do… Ephesians wraps it up beautifully
Ephesians 5:1-20 (CJB) - So imitate God, as his dear children; and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance. Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people. Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. So don’t become partners with them!
For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light, for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth — try to determine what will please the Lord. Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says,
“Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you!”
Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. Use your time well, for these are evil days. So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.
Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
We really need to take account of our lives – look at our days, our weeks – what do we fill them up with. Is it mindless activity or is it mindful time spent with our Father?
Is every moment we experience filled with the awareness of Him, or do we portion Him out in our lives… maybe giving Him half, or even, a quarter, or a tenth of our weekly activities. HE SHOULD BE IN ALL THAT WE DO… whether that be a dinner out with friends or family, in our workplace, at our kids sporting events, around the family dinner table… GOD should be the center of it all. Idols are not just built out of stone or wood… they are incorporated into the very fabric of our culture – time on-line, social media, our phones, video games for the kids, our hobbies, anything that takes up more of our time than what we are giving to our Heavenly Father. I know that may sound a bit much… but it’s not.
As we discussed last month – 1 John 2:3-6 – And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. BY THIS WE MAY KNOW THAT WE ARE IN HIM: Whoever says he abides in HIM ought to WALK in the SAME WAY in which HE walked.
I know not everything that Jesus did was written as John 21:25 further tells us – Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
I am fairly convinced that Jesus did not waste the time He spent here on earth with us, or fill His days, His weeks with mindless activity. Many times we find him going away to a quiet place to speak with His Father. He continually was helping the helpless and bringing hope to the hopeless. He encouraged and taught His disciples so that they would carry on His walk.
I know at the end of a work day, and then for those of you with kids, once the dust settles for the day… it can be extremely hard to not just crash in front of a mindless TV show or movie… but how much more fulfillment we could get by taking even that last hour or two of our day and spending it with Him. Find a faith based program or movie if you just want to watch something, or if you just can’t muster the energy to read – listen to the Bible instead or play an audio book or podcast from a Biblical author or source you trust. If you are married – use the time to sit down with each other and pray together. Make a habit of it… it will become easier and I can guarantee you, you will become more thirsty for it at the end of each day or start of each morning, or better yet… both!
FIND the TIME or MAKE the TIME TO BE PRESENT WITH HIM…
Don’t become lazy in your walk or even comfortable at where You are in your walk – remember the Parable in Matthew and Luke on the Talents – Don’t hide what He has given – use it wisely and invest it for Kingdom work here on earth. We will give an account.
Where to find the Parables of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27)
I know it’s seems like every generation has said “Jesus must be coming back soon look at the state of the world” – But let’s face it, we shouldn’t base our behavior on His coming… we should be behaving based on our love for Him period. What do I mean by behaving – I think Christ made this abundantly clear in the Word, but to go a step further…
Imagine this... If you were secretly video taped through an entire week,
What would your actions, thoughts, intent, and words represent?
Would they reflect our Messiah and the way He has instructed us to live?
Would you be prioritizing God in every way, putting Him first above all else?
Would you be loving ALL those around you?
In your homes,
Would you be showing Christ love within your own home, with your spouses, with you children? Truly LIVING out Christ’s love?
Do you tell each other that you love one another?
Do you encourage one another in the faith, do you spend time with God together?
Do your kids see Christ’s love pouring out into your marriage and your interactions with them?
In the workplace,
Do those around you see God’s light or do you just blend into the rest of the corporate world…
Are you just doing what you have to in order to get out of the door at the end of the day, not looking for opportunities to display His love or better yet to explain why you are different?
In our social activities or free time
Do we spend more time talking about others or about God and what He is doing in our lives and those around us?
Do we spend more time watching television or on our smart phones than on our knees or in the Word?
Let’s face it… we are given a very short time here on Earth… whether He is coming back tonight, in 10 years, in 100 years, or a thousand years from now… we don’t know the time or the hour – But this we know for sure… we have a set number of years that the Creator designated to us before we ever breathed our first breath… In that set amount of time… and again, most do not know when their specific time is up, but we know on average we get between 60 – 90 years if we are lucky to walk this earth. WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE TIME GIVEN????? Are we going to take the talents that He gave us and be content and sit on them or hide them, or are we going to invest them in Kingdom Building and for HIS GLORY? If you have a passion or hobby that He has blessed you with, how do you use that for His purposes and Glory? We all have talents and gifts that the Creator has bestowed to us, don’t let them go to waste… use them to love on others, to serve other, to show others HIS LIGHT.
I believe it was back in August, the Rabbi at Synagogue was talking about loving on others and I loved how he suggested that when we do something kind for someone, whether it be a stranger or someone close to us… if they ask why we are doing it… our answer should be because Yeshua first showed me love. How awesome is that?!?! What a perfect way to not only display His love but give the honor to the One who gave us the ULTIMATE GIFT of love. For those folks that know you… that answer should be expected, for the stranger… what a great way to acknowledge our Lord and to share Him with others. At the very least a seed might be planted as your act of kindness actually reflect what you believe.
Don’t get idle in your faith or being a believer… again, the gift of Salvation is a gift of grace and free to all who believe as we could never earn it on our own, but truly being His Disciple is being ALL IN… not compromising our values, not getting pulled in by what feels good or what the world puts on a pedestal, rather proclaiming our Lord and Savior, Yeshua our Messiah, and holding fast to the love we had for Him when we first received that gift of Salvation. Ask God each morning to guide your thoughts, your actions, your words, your intent and become aware of these things throughout your day.
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. DO NOT be confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the WILL OF GOD, what is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT.
It is one thing to Believe and have Faith… it is another to Live out that Faith, to truly live in the way God intended for us. Why? TO HONOR HIM. Our desire should be to bring Him Glory. Why would we not want to make our Father in Heaven proud of us… we are His children and should be imagers of Him.
James 1:22 – But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 2:14-26 – What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is DEAD. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith BY MY WORKS. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the alter? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed BY HIS WORKS; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” – and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
For the churches of Pergamum and Thyatira and Sardis – they compromised, they got pulled into the culture and tolerated pagan practices. These are warnings to us as “the church” – stay alert, stay set apart, don’t just put on a façade and look alive to those watching you… live as though in any moment you will come face to face with your Maker, and give an account as we all must do. Don’t be dead on the inside. These churches were broken… a break down of their faith and moral standards. Idol worship is not tolerated, as there is only One God, who reigns supreme and only in Christ is Salvation found.
We need to be a church body, un-compromised in the truth and steadfast in our unwavering devotion to God our Father.
There is no other name - Christ is the undefeated One and our life is found in HIS NAME and His name alone.
He is our Cornerstone, our ALL in ALL – the last verse In Christ Alone just beautiful – Words to truly live by.
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till HE RETURNS OR CALLS ME HOME,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll Stand!
Laodicea – Became very self-sufficient, wealthy, and full of self/pride. Lost its drive for staying steadfast in the faith and dependency on God.
Rev 3:15-17 – “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."
How easy to become like Laodicea – to rely on our successes and our abilities and our drive for earthly fiefdom. We can so easily fall into the lie that all we need to rely on is self… this could not be further from the truth. Without God, we are nothing.
Look at how Jesus put it in verse 17 – For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Being content in our self reliance makes God sick – be hot and full of passion for Him or be cold – energizing and revitalizing, but DO NOT BE STAGNANT and LUKEWARM.
Know that HE is more precious than anything this world has to offer.
STAYING STRONG – KEEPING THE FAITH
Smyrna – Had no rebuke, however it was told
Rev 2:10 – Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for 10 days you will have tribulation. BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE.
Philadelphia – Had no rebuke, however it was told
Rev:3:10-12 – Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
We know that staying strong in our faith and steadfast does not guarantee us a life of ease with no hardships. Jesus was very clear about that. But He also was very clear that the Day is coming when He will return for us, His church, His bride, and all the hardships and pain and tears that we face in this world will be no more.
These are the words to the song THERE WILL BE A DAY! by Jeremy Camp
BEAUTIFUL and TRUE
I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His Word declares this truth,
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew.
But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings, There will be a place with no more suffering.
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
We’ll see Jesus face to face.
But until that day, we’ll hold on to You always.
I know the journey feels so long you feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step where you’ve walked out all alone
Troubled soul don’t lose your heart, cause Joy and Peace He brings
And the beauty that’s in store outweighs the hurt of life’s sting
I can’t wait until that day where the very One I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced. To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery, “oh”, this is why, this is why I sing.
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face.
Revelation 21:1-14, 22-27 (ESV) – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making ALL THINGS NEW.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his GOD and he will be My son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed – on the east three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
22 – And I saw no temple in the city, for ITS TEMPLE IS THE LORD GOD THE ALMIGHTY and the LAMB. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of GOD gives it light, and its lamp is the LAMB. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day – and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But NOTHING UNCLEAN WILL EVER ENTER IT, NOR ANYONE WHO DOES what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
At end of worship, this was and continues to be my prayer for all of us...
Father, as we leave here tonight knowing how much You have loved us… Let us be on fire for You as the Day draws near. Let us take an account of what our days, our weeks are poured into, and if the priority or the largest bucket is not YOU, help us to eagerly strive to change that.
Help us to not grow weary in the Faith, to not get complacent and satisfied with where we are in our walk with You… There is ALWAYS work to be done, wisdom to be gained through Your Word, time to be spent with You and lives to be changed by You on this earth for the glory of Your Kingdom.
Please help us not to be caught up in the culture or ways of the world. Help us to not become dead inside but to genuinely be alive inside and out.
Please help us to be either hot or cold – on fire for you or as cold refreshing water to a thirty world, but not become lukewarm or stagnant when it comes to being your representatives here in this world.
Father, no one knows but You the Day of the Lord, and we should eagerly await our Savior’s return without fear in our hearts or anxieties of what’s to come.
Prepare and equip us to share the good news to as many as possible as Your Word tells us, You wish that none should perish but that all come to repentance.
Whether You return during our lifetime, or we are called home to you, help us to stay alert, stay focused on YOU and take account of the life You have given to us.
There is no down side as You are with us now, and throughout all life’s valleys, and You are with us for Eternity.
Blessed are You, King of the Universe, who gave us these lives so that we could be a blessing to others… help us not to waste the time You have set for us, or the abilities and talents You have given to us.
We pray this all in the name of Yeshua, our Messiah, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
Songs Sung in Worship October 28th, 2023 -
Bride of Christ (WorshipMob)
Spirit and the Bride (Vous Worship)
In Christ Alone (The Worship Initiative)
No Other Name (Casting Crowns)
More Precious Than Silver (Lynn DeShazo)
Oh Lord, You're Beautiful (Eleventh Hour Worship - Written by Keith Green)
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me (CityAlight)
Even So Come (Tommy Profitt & Brooke Griffith)
Prepare The Way (Eleventh Hour Worship)
Jesus Paid it All (Shane & Shane)
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